Standard Life plc is a long term savings and investment business, with headquarters in Edinburgh and operations around the globe. It has 1.5 million shareholders in more than 50 countries and over 6 million customers. Wikipedia.

Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management expect to cut 800 jobs, nearly 10% of the firms’ total workforce, within three years of their looming merger, Standard Life said after announcing on Tuesday that the combined group will be named Standard Life Aberdeen.
The Scottish companies agreed in March on an £11bn ($14.2bn) all-share deal they said is expected to bring £200m in annual cost savings.
Insurer and asset manager Standard Life and rival asset manager Aberdeen are facing competition from passive index-tracking funds which charge lower fees. The sector is also coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny, sparking a number of mergers and expectations of more to follow.
The combined firm’s 16-member board will be headed by Gerry Grimstone, current Standard Life chairman, while Standard Life and Aberdeen chief executives Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert will be co-chief executives of the new firm, a structure which some investors have criticised.
Standard Life also gave a trading update, saying it has “made further progress” in the first three months of 2017, with net investment inflows of £3.1bn ($4.01bn), excluding its Global Absolute Return Strategies (GARS), which saw outflows of £2.8bn.
GARS was a flagship investment product for Standard Life, but it has seen weaker performance in recent quarters.
Shareholders of both firms will vote on the merger at extraordinary general meetings on 19 June, with the deal expected to complete by mid-August.

Almost £8bn or more than a fifth was wiped off the stock market value of BT after the telecoms group revealed that an accounting scandal at its Italian business was much worse than originally thought.
The company also warned of a slowdown in some of its other operations, with international corporate clients cutting back after the Brexit vote and UK government departments reducing their spending. As a result, profits would be £300m lower than previously expected.
The Italian problems mean the company’s remuneration committee will examine bonus payments previously paid to leading directors, including the chief executive, Gavin Patterson, which were based on targets that may not now be met. It may also seek to claw back payments given to senior Italian executives, a number of whom were initially suspended and have now left the business. BT’s European head, Corrado Sciolla, reportedly resigned on Tuesday, but the company would not comment on this.
It also emerged that Italian prosecutors were opening their own investigation into BT Italia over alleged false accounting and embezzlement.
The company said the improper behaviour in Italy was “an extremely serious matter” and added: “The remuneration committee will consider the wider implications of the BT Italy investigation.”
Patterson earned £5.3m last year including an annual bonus of just over £1m and share awards worth £3m. The finance director, Tony Chanmugam, who was already due to step down in July, received £2.8m, including a £587,000 bonus.
BT’s shares fell 79.55p or 20.7% to 303p on the news, its biggest ever one day fall and its lowest level since June 2013. The company’s shares are among the most widely owned on the UK stock market, with a large number of small investors who have held on since the company was privatised in 1984. About 700,000 of its 827,000 shareholders own 1,600 shares or fewer.
A number of US law firms specialising in shareholder class action suits immediately said they were looking at whether BT had violated federal laws.
Following these problems, BT said it now expected a double-digit fall in fourth quarter earnings, adjusting for the recent £12.5bn acquisition of mobile group EE. Full-year profits are now expected to be about £7.6bn, compared with earlier estimates of £7.9bn, and flat next year.
The mismanagement in Italy, where BT has operated since the 1990s, emerged over the summer when the company was approached by a whistleblower.
The company said in October it had discovered “inappropriate management behaviour” in its Italian division, which would cost it £145m. Now, just days before its third-quarter results on Friday, it rushed out a statement saying the total cost was put at £530m.
An investigation by KPMG found: “The extent and complexity of inappropriate behaviour in the Italian business were far greater than previously identified.”
The inquiry found “improper accounting practices and a complex set of improper sales, purchase, factoring and leasing transactions”, which meant earnings in the Italian business had been overstated for a number of years.
On top of the Italian review, BT said it was conducting a broader investigation into financial processes, systems and controls across the whole group.
The company said it “needs to reflect” on why the improper behaviour was not spotted by BT Italy’s management, the wider group, or by its auditors.
Patterson said it was investigating its other overseas business but he believed the problem was specific to Italy. He said it was a very complex set of manipulations, involving a lot of people over many years.
Major shareholders including Standard Life and Legal & General refused to comment but Royal London Asset Management, which owns 0.9% of BT, said: “[The] announcement from BT surprises us on a number of counts. Firstly, BT is a strong company with a relatively predictable business and so not generally prone to these kinds of warnings. Secondly, given the modest scale of the Italian business, the magnitude of the hit it has caused is concerning. Finally, the warning that spending by government and corporate customers has shown some signs of softening is the sting in the tail of the announcement.”
Deutsche Telekom, which has a 12% stake in BT after the sale of its stake in EE to the UK company, would not comment apart from saying: “Deutsche Telekom is following developments at BT closely.”
Analysts at Haitong said the warnings on Italy and the outlook were “a bitter disappointment”. They said: “These two issues are far from the most consequential drivers of BT’s share price at current levels: we think regulation and the pension deficit remain much more important determinants of BT’s net present value.
“BT said that prospects for the rest of the group … remain good, but management should have brought forward third-quarter 2017 results (out this Friday) to talk much more expansively about this. Not doing so, we think, was a mistake.”
Mike van Dulken, the head of research at Accendo Markets, said: “Last October’s suggestion of a £145m charge didn’t cause too many ripples as regulatory issues and a rising pension deficit hogged the headlines.
“[This] admission adds this to these nasty headwinds, especially as it could weigh on profits for the next two years. Even management isn’t sure what the final figure will be.”
Van Dulken said BT still expected to increase its dividend by 10% for the next two years, but it was unclear whether that would satisfy disgruntled shareholders who, before Tuesday, had seen the company’s share price lose more than 20% since the start of 2016.

GALVESTON, Texas, April 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American National Insurance Company (Nasdaq:ANAT) announced stronger first quarter 2017 net income of $39.8 million or $1.48 per diluted share, a 35.9% increase over the same period 2016 net income of $29.3 million or $1.09 per diluted share. Book value per diluted share increased to $175.34 at March 31, 2017 from $172.51 at December 31, 2016.
First quarter after-tax operating income of $28.3 million increased $4.0 million over the same period 2016 operating income of $24.3 million, which included a non-recurring federal income tax benefit of $10.1 million. First quarter earnings were $1.05 per diluted share in 2017 compared to $0.90 per diluted share in 2016. First quarter earnings increased for the life and annuity segments compared to the same period in 2016. Property and casualty results were negatively impacted by increased catastrophe losses, particularly those associated with severe storms occurring in March, which impacted the homeowner and agribusiness lines.
After-tax operating income excludes realized investment earnings, which is comprised of realized investment gains, equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates and income from non-controlling interests. Realized investment earnings for first quarter 2017 were $11.5 million or $0.43 per diluted share compared to $5.0 million or $0.19 per diluted share in 2016.
Life insurance in force continued to grow, increasing by $1.4 billion, to reach $97.0 billion as of March 31, 2017. At March 31, 2017, stockholders’ equity totaled $4.7 billion, a 1.7% increase from December 31, 2016.
* Results are preliminary and unaudited. American National expects to timely file its Form 10-Q in May.
** Operating income excludes realized investment earnings, which is comprised of realized investment gains, equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, and income (loss) from non-controlling interests, after-tax. Net income is the sum of operating income and realized investment earnings.
American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National has been assigned an ‘A’ rating by A.M. Best Company and an ‘A’ rating by Standard & Poor’s, both of which are nationally recognized rating agencies.
American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP basis, $24.8 billion in assets, $20.1 billion in liabilities and $4.7 billion in stockholders’ equity. American National and its subsidiaries offer a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures. The American National companies operate in all 50 states. Major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of Texas, American National Life Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and United Farm Family Insurance Company.
For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.AmericanNational.com.

GALVESTON, Texas, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ:ANAT) declared a quarterly dividend of 82 cents per share on its common stock CUSIP #028591-105, at a meeting held on April 28, 2017. In compliance with NASDAQ’s applicable dividend notice requirements, the dividend is payable June 16, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2017 with an ex-dividend date to be determined by the NASDAQ Stock Market, anticipated to be May 31, 2017. American National Insurance Company has paid dividends to stockholders for more than 100 consecutive years.
American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National has been assigned an ‘A’ rating by A.M. Best Company and an ‘A’ rating by Standard & Poor’s, both of which are nationally recognized rating agencies.
American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP basis, $24.8 billion in assets, $20.1 billion in liabilities and $4.7 billion in stockholders’ equity. American National and its subsidiaries offer a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures. The American National companies operate in all 50 states. Major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of Texas, American National Life Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and United Farm Family Insurance Company.
For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.AmericanNational.com.

GALVESTON, Texas, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ:ANAT) declared a quarterly dividend of 82 cents per share on its common stock CUSIP #028591-105, at a meeting held on April 28, 2017. In compliance with NASDAQ’s applicable dividend notice requirements, the dividend is payable June 16, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2017 with an ex-dividend date to be determined by the NASDAQ Stock Market, anticipated to be May 31, 2017. American National Insurance Company has paid dividends to stockholders for more than 100 consecutive years.
American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National has been assigned an ‘A’ rating by A.M. Best Company and an ‘A’ rating by Standard & Poor’s, both of which are nationally recognized rating agencies.
American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP basis, $24.8 billion in assets, $20.1 billion in liabilities and $4.7 billion in stockholders’ equity. American National and its subsidiaries offer a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures. The American National companies operate in all 50 states. Major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of Texas, American National Life Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and United Farm Family Insurance Company.
For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.AmericanNational.com.

GALVESTON, Texas, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ:ANAT) declared a quarterly dividend of 82 cents per share on its common stock CUSIP #028591-105, at a meeting held on April 28, 2017. In compliance with NASDAQ’s applicable dividend notice requirements, the dividend is payable June 16, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2017 with an ex-dividend date to be determined by the NASDAQ Stock Market, anticipated to be May 31, 2017. American National Insurance Company has paid dividends to stockholders for more than 100 consecutive years.
American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National has been assigned an ‘A’ rating by A.M. Best Company and an ‘A’ rating by Standard & Poor’s, both of which are nationally recognized rating agencies.
American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP basis, $24.8 billion in assets, $20.1 billion in liabilities and $4.7 billion in stockholders’ equity. American National and its subsidiaries offer a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures. The American National companies operate in all 50 states. Major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of Texas, American National Life Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and United Farm Family Insurance Company.
For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.AmericanNational.com.

GALVESTON, Texas, April 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of American National Insurance Company (NASDAQ:ANAT) declared a quarterly dividend of 82 cents per share on its common stock CUSIP #028591-105, at a meeting held on April 28, 2017. In compliance with NASDAQ’s applicable dividend notice requirements, the dividend is payable June 16, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2017 with an ex-dividend date to be determined by the NASDAQ Stock Market, anticipated to be May 31, 2017. American National Insurance Company has paid dividends to stockholders for more than 100 consecutive years.
American National Insurance Company, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in all states except New York. American National has been assigned an ‘A’ rating by A.M. Best Company and an ‘A’ rating by Standard & Poor’s, both of which are nationally recognized rating agencies.
American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP basis, $24.8 billion in assets, $20.1 billion in liabilities and $4.7 billion in stockholders’ equity. American National and its subsidiaries offer a broad line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures. The American National companies operate in all 50 states. Major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of Texas, American National Life Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company, Garden State Life Insurance Company, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and United Farm Family Insurance Company.
For more information, including company news and investor relations information, visit the company’s web site at www.AmericanNational.com.

The present invention relates to a system and method for copying data between environments in an information management system such as the copying of business data between production and test environments in a database system. The system has a relations database with a set of relations created outside the runtime environment which are derived from a first database and which provide a link between database tables in the first database. The system also has a service generator which extracts and copies database tables at runtime to form a predetermined service or product. When the service generator receives a request to copy a product or service, this is done only if the data in the database tables comprising the product or service is the subject of one or more relation in the relations database.

In an automated savings and investment system, a Service Provider negotiates agreements with each one of a plurality of parties defining terms under which funds can be transferred from the respective party to the Service Provider on behalf of a subscriber. The Service Provider defines enhanced services under which deposit amounts can be supplemented with additional funds. The Service Provider identifies, from among the plurality of parties, a set of parties with which a given subscriber has a financial relationship and enables the subscriber to subscribe to one or more of the agreements; identifies a set of permissible enhanced services to which the subscriber is permitted to subscribe, and enables the subscriber to select at least one of the permissible enhanced services. A server receives and accumulates deposit amounts in an account associated with the subscriber; and automatically invests accumulated deposit amounts in accordance with investment preferences of the subscriber.